1 SCHEDULE 14A (RULE 14A-101) INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. ) Filed by the registrant [ ] Filed by a party other than the registrant [X] Check the appropriate box: [X] Preliminary proxy statement. [ ] Confidential, for use of the Commission only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2). [ ] Definitive proxy statement. [ ] Definitive additional materials. [ ] Soliciting material under Rule 14a-12. Printware, Inc. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) PYRAMID TRADING LP OAKMONT INVESTMENTS LLC DANIEL B. ASHER GARY S. KOHLER ANDREW J. REDLEAF - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if Other Than the Registrant) Payment of filing fee (check the appropriate box): [X] No fee required. [ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (5) Total fee paid: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing. (1) Amount Previously Paid: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) Filing Party: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) Date Filed: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 PRELIMINARY COPY, SUBJECT TO COMPLETION --------------------------------------------------------- PROXY STATEMENT OF PYRAMID TRADING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, OAKMONT INVESTMENTS LLC, DANIEL B. ASHER, GARY S. KOHLER AND ANDREW J. REDLEAF (THE "SHAREHOLDERS' COMMITTEE TO IMPROVE PRINTWARE SHAREHOLDER VALUE") --------------------------------------------------------- IN CONNECTION WITH 2000 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF PRINTWARE, INC. --------------------------------------------------------- To the Shareholders of Printware: This Proxy Statement and the enclosed GREEN proxy card are being sent to holders of the common stock, no par value per share (the "Shares"), of Printware Inc., a Minnesota corporation, (the "Company" or "Printware") by the Shareholders' Committee to Improve Printware Shareholder Value (the "Committee", "we" or "us"). The Committee consists of Pyramid Trading L.P., an Illinois limited partnership ("Pyramid"), Oakmont Investments, LLC ("Oakmont"), Andrew J. Redleaf, Daniel B. Asher and Gary S. Kohler. The Committee is soliciting proxies from Printware's shareholders to be voted in favor of the Committee's six director nominees at the annual meeting of shareholders of Printware, which is scheduled to be held at Printware's executive offices at 1270 Eagan Industrial Road, St. Paul, Minnesota 55121, at 3:30 p.m., Central Daylight Time, on Thursday, April 13, 2000, including any adjournments or postponements, continuations or reschedulings thereof (the "Annual Meeting"). This Proxy Statement and the GREEN proxy card are first being sent to Printware's shareholders on or about April [ ], 2000. Printware has set February 23, 2000 as the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting. THIS SOLICITATION IS BEING MADE BY THE COMMITTEE AND NOT ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF PRINTWARE. 3 OUR PROPOSAL We are soliciting your proxies to elect our six nominees to Printware's Board of Directors. Election of our nominees will give us the power to control the actions of Printware's Board of Directors. WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU VOTE FOR OUR NOMINEES WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR OUR NOMINEES We own 449,200 shares, or approximately 13.7%, of Printware's outstanding common stock. We are your fellow shareholders and are concerned about Printware's deteriorating and declining financial performance and historically low stock price levels. On March 29, 2000, Printware's stock closed at $2.875 per share which is less than half of Printware's initial public offering price of $6.00 on July 2, 1996. The stock price peaked at $6.50 per share on October 2, 1996 and has not reached either the IPO price or the peak price since that time. The total revenues of Printware have declined from approximately $8.4 million in 1995 to approximately $4.6 million in 1999, a decline of approximately 45%. Similarly, income from operations has declined from approximately $1.6 million in 1995 to a loss of approximately $1.0 million in 1999. Since 1995, earnings per share has declined approximately 85% to $.07 per share in 1999. In light of these deteriorating results over the last five years, we are unsatisfied with the performance of Printware and its management. We have approached Printware on several occasions and recommended ways to increase shareholder value. We communicated our belief that Printware's balance sheet is overcapitalized for the requirements of their business. Printware's purchases of property and equipment have averaged less than $100,000 per year for the last three years but during this period, Printware had cash and available-for-sale securities in excess of $7.5 million. To address this situation, we recommended that Printware return capital to shareholders by repurchasing shares in a Dutch Auction or some other means which fairly treats all shareholders. Printware, however, has rejected our proposals and the stock continues to trade below the IPO price. We believe something is broken at Printware that your current management or Board of Directors cannot fix. We are proposing to replace the entire board because we believe that Printware's current business strategies, plans and policies are not the best course of action for us or you as owners of Printware. If elected, our nominees will promptly perform a comprehensive review of Printware's operations, capital structure and management in order to commence a course of action to attempt to maximize shareholder value. 2 4 BACKGROUND In September 1999, we identified Printware as a company which in our opinion was an undervalued investment opportunity based on its computer-to-plate technology and its applicability to Internet-based printing, and its excess capital. We began purchasing shares in September 1999. In December 1999, we approached Printware to express our concern that Printware's balance sheet was overcapitalized and proposed that Printware take action to increase shareholder value. Following the initial contacts, we continued our efforts to engage Printware in discussions on specific ways to accomplish that goal. However, our suggestions have consistently been rejected by Printware's Board and management. We have continued to monitor Printware but are not satisfied with any action, communication or direction that Printware has taken or plans to take to improve shareholder value. YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT Only the latest proxy card will count at Annual Meeting. No matter how many or how few Shares you own, we urge you to promptly sign, date and mail (or fax both sides of) the enclosed GREEN proxy card to vote for our nominees. VOTING "STREET NAME" SHARES: If you hold your Shares in the name of one or more brokerage firms, banks or nominees, only they can exercise voting rights with respect to your Shares and only upon receipt of your specific instructions. So it is critical that you promptly sign, date and mail the enclosed GREEN proxy card in the envelope provided or contact the person responsible for your account and give instructions to sign, date and mail the GREEN proxy card representing your Shares. We urge you to confirm in writing your instructions to the person responsible for your account and to provide a copy of those instructions to us in care of Beacon Hill Partners, Inc., who is assisting in this solicitation, so that Committee will be aware of all instructions and can attempt to ensure that such instructions are followed. The address and telephone numbers of Beacon Hill are set forth below and on the back cover of this Proxy Statement. We are not aware of any proposals other than our proposals and the proposals contained in Printware's proxy materials to be brought before the Annual Meeting. However, should other proposals be brought before the Annual Meeting, the persons named as proxies on the enclosed GREEN proxy card will vote on such matters in their discretion. If you have any questions regarding your proxy, or need assistance in voting your Shares, please call: BEACON HILL PARTNERS, INC. 90 BROAD STREET, 20TH FLOOR (212) 843-8500 (CALL COLLECT) or CALL TOLL FREE (800) 755-5001 FAX: (212) 843-4384 3 5 PROPOSAL 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS SUMMARY: PROPOSAL TO ELECT CHARLES BOLGER, STANLEY GOLDBERG, ROGER C. LUCAS, DOUGLAS M. PIHL, GARY S. KOHLER AND ANDREW J. REDLEAF TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF PRINTAWARE. The Committee has nominated and solicits your vote to elect Charles Bolger, Stanley Goldberg, Roger C. Lucas, Douglas M. Pihl, Gary S. Kohler and Andrew J. Redleaf as directors at the Annual Meeting to serve until their successors are duly elected (the "Committee Nominees"). The following table sets forth the name, age, business address, present principal occupation and business experience for the past five years, and certain other information, with respect to each of the Committee Nominees. This information has been furnished to us by the respective Committee Nominees. Each of the Committee Nominees has consented to serve as a director and, if elected, would hold office until his successor is duly elected or until his earlier death, retirement, resignation or removal. OUR NOMINEES: NAME, AGE AND ADDRESS BUSINESS EXPERIENCE - --------------------- ------------------- CHARLES BOLGER (47) Charles Bolger has served in various capacities at 3301 Como Avenue SE Bolger Publications, Inc., a Minneapolis-based Minneapolis, MN 55414 commercial printing company, since 1978 and as Chief Executive Officer since 1992. Bolger Publications utilizes various technologies in its printing operations, including computer-to-plate technology. Mr. Bolger has more than 20 years experience in the printing industry. He served on the Board of Directors of Printing Industry of Minnesota, a trade association, from 1980 to 1988. Mr. Bolger has also been a director of the Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota since 1998, and a director and Treasurer of the American Indian OIC (Opportunities and Industrialization Centers) since 1992. Mr. Bolger has an M.B.A. degree from the University of Michigan and B.A. degree in economics from Colby College. STANLEY GOLDBERG (53) Stanley Goldberg has been the Managing Partner of 8400 Normandale Lake Blvd. Goldmark Advisors, LLC, a business development Suite 920 company providing managerial and financially related Bloomington, MN 55437 services to emerging and high growth potential businesses, since 1999. Mr. Goldberg was the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Verdant Brands, Inc., a developer, manufacturer and supplier of pest control products, from 1992 to 1999. Mr. Goldberg 4 6 NAME, AGE AND ADDRESS BUSINESS EXPERIENCE - --------------------- ------------------- was Vice President and General Manager of Thomson Consumer Electronics, Worldwide Audio Division, a defense and electronics company, from 1988 until 1992. Prior to 1988, Mr. Goldberg held various positions in the Consumer Products Sector of General Electric Company, most recently as Manager of Product Development. Mr. Goldberg serves on the Boards of Directors of Verdant Brands, Inc., Destron-Fearing Corporation, and Medi-Ject Corporation. Mr. Goldberg has a B.S. degree from West Virginia University. GARY S. KOHLER (43) Gary S. Kohler has been a portfolio manager and director 3033 Excelsior Blvd., Suite 300 of equity research at Whitebox Advisors, LLC, a money Minneapolis, MN 55416 management company, since October 1999. Mr. Kohler is also a founder of ChoiceTel Communications, Inc. and has served as the Chairman of its Board of Directors since its inception in 1989. Mr. Kohler was a managing director of Second Avenue Capital Management, a money management company, from December 1998 to October 1999, and was President of Kohler Capital Management from October 1997 through November 1998. Mr. Kohler was a partner in Tarmachan Holdings, Inc. from July to October 1997, and was Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Okabena Company from 1984 through June 1997. Mr. Kohler serves on the Boards of Directors of Destron-Fearing Corporation and a number of private companies, including Emerald First Financial and Health EZ, Inc. Mr. Kohler has an M.B.A. degree from Cornell University and a B.A. degree from the University of Minnesota. ROGER C. LUCAS, PH.D. (56) Roger C. Lucas has been the Vice Chairman of and Senior 41 E. Pleasant Lake Rd. Scientific Advisor to the Board of Directors of Techne North Oaks, MN 55127 Corporation, a biotechnology company, since 1995. Mr. Lucas was the Chief Scientific Officer, Executive Vice President, and Secretary of Techne Corporation from 1985 to 1995. Mr. Lucas has also been the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Visual Circuits, a digital video company, since 1997. Mr. Lucas serves on the Boards of Directors of Techne Corporation, ChemoCentryx, a 5 7 NAME, AGE AND ADDRESS BUSINESS EXPERIENCE - --------------------- ------------------- partially-owned subsidiary of Techne Corporation, Visual Circuits, and St. Croix Medical Corporation. Mr. Lucas has a Ph.D. degree in physiology and biochemistry from the Illinois Institute of Technology. DOUGLAS M. PIHL (60) Douglas M. Pihl has over 30 years of experience in the 527 Marquette Ave., Suite 930 computer industry with extensive responsibility in design, Minneapolis, MN 55402 product planning and management. Mr. Pihl has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mathstar, Inc., a digital signal processing company, since November 1999. Mr. Pihl has been Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vital Images, Inc., a medical imaging company, since 1997, and served as its Chief Executive Officer from February 1998 to December 1999. Mr. Pihl was President, Chief Executive Officer, and a Director of NetStar, Inc., a manufacturer of advanced computer network products, from 1992 to 1996. Mr. Pihl was a founder of Apertus Technologies, Inc. (formerly Lee Data Corporation), and held various positions with that company from 1979 to 1990, most recently as Senior Vice President, Development. Mr. Pihl also serves on the Boards of Directors of Destron-Fearing Corporation and Astrocom Corporation. ANDREW J. REDLEAF (42) Andrew J. Redleaf is a founder and since 1999 has been 3033 Excelsior Blvd., Suite 300 the Chief Executive Officer of Whitebox Advisors, LLC, a Minneapolis, MN 55416 money management company. Prior to founding Whitebox Advisors in 1999, Mr. Redleaf was a co-founder and partner in Arbitrade Holdings LLC, a money management and securities trading firm, from 1997 to 1999. Mr. Redleaf was the Director of Portfolio Management at Tarmachan Capital Management, a predecessor to Arbitrade Holdings, from 1994 until 1997. For approximately ten years prior to joining Tarmachan, Mr. Redleaf was self-employed as a securities trader. Mr. Redleaf has B.A. and M.A. degrees in mathematics from Yale University. If our nominees are elected and take office as directors, they intend to discharge their duties in compliance with all applicable legal requirements, including the general fiduciary obligations imposed upon corporate directors. 6 8 Other than the compensation regularly paid by Printware to its Board members, the Committee Nominees will not receive any compensation from us for their services as directors of Printware. Information about compensation paid by Printware to directors is available in Printware's proxy materials. None of the Committee Nominees is adverse to Printware or any of its subsidiaries in any material pending legal proceedings. The Committee does not expect that any of the Committee Nominees will be unable to stand for election. However, if a vacancy among the Committee Nominees should occur, the Shares represented by the enclosed GREEN proxy card will be voted in each such case for a substitute nominee selected by us. In addition, the Committee reserves the right to nominate substitute or additional persons if Printware makes or announces any changes to its bylaws or takes or announces any other action that has, or if consummated would have, the effect of disqualifying any or all of the Committee Nominees or cause our Committee nominees, if elected, not to constitute at lease a majority of the Board. In any such case, Shares represented by the enclosed GREEN proxy card will be voted for all such substitute or additional nominees selected by us. In accordance with applicable regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the GREEN proxy card affords each shareholder the opportunity to designate the names of any of the Committee Nominees whom he or she does not desire to elect to the Board. The Committee urges shareholders to vote FOR Proposal No. 1 on the enclosed GREEN proxy card. The persons named as proxies on the enclosed GREEN proxy card will vote, in their discretion, for each of the Committee Nominees who is nominated for election and for whom authority has not been withheld. THE COMMITTEE URGES ALL SHAREHOLDERS TO VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE COMMITTEE NOMINEES ON THE ENCLOSED GREEN PROXY CARD. VOTING AND PROXY PROCEDURES Only shareholders of record on February 23, 2000, the Record Date set forth in Printware's Proxy Statement, will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. Each Share is entitled to one vote upon each matter presented at the Annual Meeting. Shareholders of record on the Record Date, will retain their voting rights in connection with the Annual Meeting even if they sell such Shares after the Record Date. Pursuant to Printware's bylaws, the presence in person or by proxy of a majority of the voting power of shares entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. An item of business will be approved if it receives the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present and entitled to vote on that item of business. 7 9 If a shareholder has elected to "withhold authority" as to the election of any Committee Nominee, the shares represented by such proxy will be considered present at the Annual Meeting for purposes of determining a quorum and for purposes of calculating the vote, but will not be considered to have been voted in favor of such Committee Nominee. Broker non-votes will not be considered present and entitled to vote and will not be considered in determining whether a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting. Based on publicly available information, we believe that the only outstanding class of securities of Printware entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting are shares of Printware's Common Stock. According to Printware's Proxy Statement, as of the Record Date there were 3,275,557 Shares issued and outstanding. Shares represented by properly executed GREEN proxy cards will be voted at the Annual Meeting as marked and, in the absence of specific instructions, will be voted FOR Proposal No. 1 in favor of the election of the Committee Nominees to the Board, and in the discretion of the persons named as proxies on all other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting. A shareholder may revoke his or her proxy at any time prior to its exercise by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person (although attendance at the Annual Meeting will not in and of itself constitute revocation of a proxy) or by delivering a written notice or revocation. The delivery of a subsequently dated proxy which is properly completed will constitute a revocation of any earlier proxy. The revocation may be delivered either to us in care of Beacon Hill Partners, Inc. at the address set forth on the back cover of this Proxy Statement or to Printware (attention: Secretary) at 1270 Eagan Industrial Road, St. Paul, Minnesota 55121 or any other address provided by Printware. Although a revocation is effective if delivered to Printware, we request that either the original or photostatic copies of all revocations be mailed to us in care of Beacon Hill Partners, Inc. at the address set forth on the back cover of this Proxy Statement so that we will be aware of all revocations and can more accurately determine if and when proxies have been received from the holders of record on the Record Date of a majority of the outstanding Shares. Assuming that a quorum is present or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting, the election of the Committee Nominees requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the Shares voting at the Annual Meeting for the election of directors. IF YOU WISH TO VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE COMMITTEE NOMINEES TO THE BOARD, PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY THE ENCLOSED GREEN PROXY CARD IN THE POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE PROVIDED. REGISTERED HOLDERS MAY FAX BOTH SIDES OF THE ENCLOSED GREEN PROXY CARD TO BEACON HILL PARTNERS, INC. AT THE NUMBER SET FORTH ON THE BACK COVER OF THIS PROXY STATEMENT. SOLICITATION OF PROXIES The solicitation of proxies pursuant to this Proxy Statement is being made by the Committee. Proxies may be solicited by mail, facsimile, telephone, telegraph, e-mail, in person and by advertisements. 8 10 The Committee has retained Beacon Hill Partners, Inc. for solicitation and advisory services in connection with this solicitation, for which Beacon Hill Partners, Inc. will receive a fee of up to $37,500, together with reimbursement of its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, and will be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses, including certain liabilities under the federal securities laws. Beacon Hill Partners, Inc. will solicit proxies from individuals, brokers, banks, bank nominees and other institutional holders. We have requested banks, brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward all solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of the Shares they hold of record. We will reimburse these record holders for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in so doing. It is anticipated that Beacon Hill Partners, Inc. will employ approximately 20 persons to solicit Printware's shareholders for the Annual Meeting. The entire expense of soliciting proxies is being borne by us. We intend to seek reimbursement of the costs of this solicitation from Printware only to the extent permitted by law. The Committee does not intend to seek shareholder approval of such reimbursement unless such approval is required by law. Costs of this solicitation of proxies are currently estimated to be approximately $80,000 to $120,000. ABSENCE OF TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN THE COMMITTEE AND PRINTWARE Except as set forth in this Proxy Statement (including the Schedules hereto), none of the Committee Nominees nor members of the Committee, or any other participant in this solicitation or any of their respective associates: (i) directly or indirectly beneficially owns any Shares or any securities of Printware; (ii) has had any relationship with Printware in any capacity other than as a shareholder, or is or has been a party to any transactions, or series of similar transactions, since the beginning of Printware's last fiscal year with respect to any Shares of Printware; or (iii) knows of any transactions since the beginning of Printware's last fiscal year, currently proposed transactions, or series of similar transactions, to which Printware or any of its subsidiaries was or is to be a party, in which the amount involved exceeds $60,000 and in which any of them or their respective affiliates had, or will have, a direct or indirect material interest. In addition, other than as set forth in Schedule II of this Proxy Statement, there are no contracts, arrangements or understandings entered into by the Committee, or any other participant in this solicitation or any of their respective associates within the past year with any person with respect to any of Printware's securities, including, but not limited to, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees against loss or guarantees of profit, division of losses or profits, or the giving or withholding of proxies. In addition, other than as set forth in this Proxy Statement, none of the Committee Nominees nor members of the Committee, or any other participant in this solicitation or any of their respective associates has been engaged in contracts, negotiations or transactions with Printware or its affiliates concerning a merger, consolidation, acquisition, tender offer or other acquisition of securities, election of directors or a sale or other transfer of a material amount of assets; or has had any other transaction with Printware or any of its executive officers, directors or affiliates that would require disclosure under the rules and regulations of the Commission. 9 11 Except as set forth in this Proxy Statement (including the Schedules hereto), none of the Committee Nominees nor members of the Committee, or any other participant in this solicitation or any of their respective associates, has entered into any agreement or understanding with any person with respect to (i) any future employment by Printware or its affiliates or (ii) any future transactions to which Printware or any of its affiliates will or may be a party. OTHER MATTERS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The Committee is not aware of any business other than as set forth in this Proxy Statement and Printware's proxy materials that will be presented at the Annual Meeting. Should other proposals be brought before the Annual Meeting, the persons named as proxies on the enclosed GREEN proxy card will vote on such matters in their discretion. Shareholders are referred to Printware's Proxy Statement with respect to other information related to beneficial ownership of Printware's securities, any arrangements which may result in a change of control of Printware, any change of control of Printware that may have occurred since the beginning of Printware's last fiscal year and information regarding Printware's stock option and other incentive compensation plans. The information concerning Printware contained in this Proxy Statement has been taken from, or is based upon, publicly available information. SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE The Committee has timely filed all Forms 3, 4 and 5 required to be filed by it. SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2001 ANNUAL MEETING Printware's Proxy Statement with respect to the Annual Meeting indicates when proposals of Printware's shareholders intended to be presented at Printware's 2001 Annual Meeting must be received by Printware in order for them to be considered for inclusion in the Proxy Statement. Such Proxy Statement does not specify when such proposals must be raised to be timely at the 2001 Annual Meeting. PYRAMID TRADING LP OAKMONT INVESTMENTS LLC DANIEL B. ASHER GARY S. KOHLER ANDREW J. REDLEAF April , 2000 10 12 SCHEDULE I INFORMATION CONCERNING THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE PYRAMID TRADING LP Pyramid is an Illinois limited partnership located at 440 South LaSalle Street, Suite 700, in Chicago, Illinois. Pyramid invests in securities for its own account. Pyramid is also a registered broker-dealer for the CBOE. The general partner of Pyramid is Oakmont Investments LLC. Messrs. Asher, Kohler and Redleaf are limited partners of Pyramid. OAKMONT INVESTMENTS LLC Oakmont Investments LLC is an Illinois limited liability company located at 440 South LaSalle Street, Suite 700, Chicago, Illinois. Oakmont invests in securities for its own account. Mr. Asher is manager of Oakmont. DANIEL B. ASHER Mr. Asher is the manager of Oakmont. He has been manager of Castle Creek Partners, a hedge fund, since 1997. Prior to that, Mr. Asher was self- employed in the securities business. He has a BGS degree from the University of Michigan. Information with respect to Messrs. Kohler and Redleaf is contained elsewhere in this Proxy Statement. 13 SCHEDULE II SHARES HELD AND TRANSACTIONS BY THE COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE NOMINEES Except as otherwise disclosed in these Proxy Materials, none of the Committee Nominees or any general partner of Pyramid or Oakmont, or any of their affiliates, holds any shares of the Printware's common stock or has purchased or sold any Printware common stock or other Printware securities during the past two years. The Committee beneficially owns a total of 449,200 Shares, constituting approximately 13.7% of the outstanding Shares of Printware's common stock. The transactions by the Committee as well as the Committee Nominees during the past two years are set forth below, all of which were open market purchases: PYRAMID TRADING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP (Total: 333,400 Shares) DATE # OF SHARES BOUGHT PRICE PER SHARE ($) TOTAL COST ($)* 12/03/99 10,000 2.13 21,250 12/06/99 5,000 2.13 10,625 12/06/99 1,900 2.13 4,038 12/06/99 3,100 2.13 6,588 12/07/99 5,000 2.13 10,625 12/07/99 4,400 2.13 9,350 12/07/99 600 2.13 1,275 12/09/99 2,000 2.13 4,250 12/10/99 5,000 2.13 10,625 12/10/99 45,000 2.13 96,625 12/14/99 5,000 2.15 10,750 12/16/99 3,200 2.13 6,800 12/16/99 15,000 2.13 31,875 1/10/00 2,200 2.31 5,088 1/11/00 21,000 2.31 48,563 1/12/00 12,000 2.31 27,750 1/14/00 2,500 2.31 5,781 1/18/00 500 2.31 1,156 2/11/00 190,000 2.56 486,875 GARY S. KOHLER (Total: 7,500 Shares) DATE # OF SHARES BOUGHT PRICE PER SHARE ($) TOTAL COST ($)* 10/22/99 7,500 2.05 15,375 14 ANDREW J. REDLEAF (Total: 108,300 Shares) DATE # OF SHARES BOUGHT PRICE PER SHARE ($) TOTAL COST ($)* 09/27/99 20,000 2.40 48,012 10/28/99 1,100 2.07 2,280 11/01/99 10,000 2.06 20,637 11/04/99 20,000 2.12 42,430 11/15/99 10,000 2.06 20,612 11/16/99 1,100 2.06 2,267 11/17/99 10,000 2.05 20,512 11/18/99 3,000 2.05 6,150 11/22/99 6,800 2.17 14,780 12/02/99 16,300 2.19 35,776 12/05/99 10,000 2.19 21,874 OAKMONT INVESTMENTS LLC: NONE. However, Oakmont is general partner of Pyramid. DANIEL B. ASHER: NONE CHARLES BOLGER: NONE STANLEY GOLDBERG: NONE ROGER C. LUCAS: NONE DOUGLAS M. PIHL: NONE - --------------------------- *Commissions not included. The purchases referred to above were made with personal funds or working capital. Except as disclosed in this Schedule, none of the Committee members or the Committee Nominees owns any securities of Printware or any subsidiary of Printware, beneficially or of record, has purchased or sold any of such securities within the past two years or was within the past year a party to any contract, arrangement or understanding with any person with respect to any such securities. Except as disclosed in this Schedule, to the knowledge of the Committee members, no associate of the Committee members or of its partners, or of the Committee Nominees beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, any securities of Printware. To the knowledge of the Committee members, other than as disclosed in this Schedule, none of the Committee members or the Committee Nominees has any substantial interest, direct or indirect, by security holdings or otherwise, in any matter to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting. 15 IMPORTANT Your vote is important. No matter how many Shares you own, please give us your proxy FOR the election of the Committee Nominees by taking four steps: 1. SIGN the enclosed GREEN proxy card, 2. DATE the enclosed GREEN proxy card, 3. MAIL the enclosed GREEN proxy card TODAY in the envelope provided (no postage is required if mailed in the United States). Registered holders may FAX BOTH SIDES of the enclosed GREEN proxy card TODAY to Beacon Hill Partners, Inc. at the number provided below, and 4. CONTACT your broker and instruct the broker to execute a GREEN proxy card. If any of your Shares are held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank, bank nominee or other institution, only it can vote such Shares and only upon receipt of your specific instructions. Accordingly, please return the GREEN proxy card in the envelope provided or contact the person responsible for your account and instruct that person to execute the GREEN proxy card representing your Shares. We urge you to confirm in writing your instructions to us in care of Beacon Hill Partners, Inc. at the address provided below so that we will be aware of all instructions given and can attempt to ensure that such instructions are followed. If you have any questions or require any additional information concerning this Proxy Statement, please contact, Beacon Hill Partners, Inc. at the address set forth below. BEACON HILL PARTNERS, INC. 90 BROAD STREET, 20TH FLOOR (212) 843-8500 (CALL COLLECT) or CALL TOLL FREE (800) 755-5001 FAX: (212) 843-4384 16 APPENDIX PRELIMINARY COPY, SUBJECT TO COMPLETION PRINTWARE, INC. PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS APRIL 13, 2000 THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF PYRAMID TRADING L.P., OAKMONT INVESTMENTS, LLC, ANDREW J. REDLEAF, DANIEL B. ASHER, AND GARY S. KOHLER (THE "SHAREHOLDERS' COMMITTEE TO IMPROVE PRINTWARE SHAREHOLDER VALUE") The undersigned appoints and , and each of them acting alone, attorneys and agents with full power of substitution as proxy of the undersigned (the "Proxy Agents") to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Printware, Inc. to be held at 1270 Eagan Industrial Road, St. Paul, Minnesota on April 13, 2000, commencing at 3:30 p.m., Central Daylight Time, and at any adjournments or postponements, continuations or reschedulings thereof and any special meeting called in lieu thereof (the "Annual Meeting") and to vote all shares of common stock of Printware, Inc. ("Shares") which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present at the Annual Meeting, as follows: THE SHAREHOLDERS' COMMITTEE TO IMPROVE PRINTWARE SHAREHOLDER VALUE RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF ALL OF ITS NOMINEES NAMED BELOW ELECTION OF DIRECTORS 1. Proposal to elect Charles Bolger, Stanley Goldberg, Roger C. Lucas, Douglas M. Pihl, Gary S. Kohler and Andrew J. Redleaf to the Board of Directors of Printware. FOR ALL NOMINEES / / WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ALL NOMINEES / / INSTRUCTION: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ONE OR MORE INDIVIDUAL NOMINEES, MARK "FOR ALL NOMINEES" ABOVE AND WRITE THE NAME(S) OF THE NOMINEE WITH RESPECT TO WHICH YOU WISH TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY HERE: . In their discretion, each of the Proxy Agents is authorized to vote upon any other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting. 17 The undersigned hereby revokes any other proxy or proxies heretofore given to vote or act with respect to the Shares held by the undersigned, and hereby ratifies and confirms all actions the Proxy Agents or their substitutes lawfully take by virtue hereof. IF PROPERLY EXECUTED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED ABOVE. IF NO DIRECTION IS INDICATED WITH RESPECT TO THE ABOVE PROPOSALS, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR PROPOSAL 1. This proxy will be valid until the earlier of one year from the date indicated below or the completion of the Annual Meeting. IMPORTANT: PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. REGISTERED HOLDERS MAY FAX BOTH SIDES OF THIS PROXY TO BEACON HILL PARTNERS, INC. AT: (212) 843-4384 DATED: , 2000 ---------------------- ----------------------------------- (Signature) ----------------------------------- (Signature, if held jointly) ----------------------------------- (Title) Please sign exactly as name appears on this proxy. When shares are held jointly, joint owners should each sign. Executors, administrators, trustees, etc. should indicate the capacity in which signing. IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE WITH THIS PROXY CARD, PLEASE CALL BEACON HILL PARTNERS TOLL-FREE (800) 755-5001 OR CALL COLLECT (212) 843-8500.